GBA Urges EOCO to Act Responsibly and Respect Due Process

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has urged the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and other state institutions to exercise their powers responsibly, fairly, and in accordance with due process and human rights protections.

The call follows the attempted arrest of Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, at the Accra High Court while he was appearing as a lawyer representing a client.

In a statement issued on Friday, September 25, the GBA said the incident raised concerns about due process, the independence of the legal profession, and respect for the rights of lawyers.

The Association also expressed concern over videos from the incident in which another lawyer, Enoch Anhwere Afoakwa, alleged that he had been assaulted by the EOCO officer involved in the attempted arrest.

The GBA stressed that although no individual is above the law, enforcement actions involving lawyers must comply with constitutional protections and established legal procedures.

It cautioned that actions perceived as bypassing these safeguards could create an impression of intimidation and discourage lawyers from carrying out their professional responsibilities.

According to the Association, lawyers play an important role in administering justice and protecting citizens’ rights. It therefore warned that interference with their professional duties could undermine public confidence in the justice system and the rule of law.

The GBA also referred to previous concerns raised by its President, Efua Ghartey, regarding the treatment of lawyers while performing their professional duties, including instances in which lawyers were arrested or subjected to what the Association described as regrettable treatment.

The Association consequently called on EOCO and other relevant state institutions to ensure that all enforcement actions are carried out with fairness, respect for individual rights, and strict adherence to due process.

“The rule of law demands not only that justice be done, but that it be seen to be done,” the GBA stated, emphasising that the independence of the legal profession remains an important pillar of democratic governance and the rule of law.